How did we get here.
 

It takes a combination of luck and skill to win it all in the NFL. Luck Lattimore falling to 11 . Sometimes it's not what you do but what you didn't do. I was all in on getting Butler from the Pats . By not making that move we got a better starter at a huge discount from what kind of contract Butler would have cost. The real luck or genius was we got Ramczyk instead. The way the OL has used it's depth and versatility is nothing short of brilliance. Credit should go to the players as well as their coach.
We had a phenomenal draft . Before Anzalone got injured we had 3 starters on defense. Add in Henderson becoming a versatile rotational DE/DT .Adding four contributors to your defense is a good draft by any standard. The fact that one of them is leading the race for DROK is icing on the cake. And oh yeah we got a future star RB also not bad eh? Five starters in one draft that is Grand slam!

The addition of LB Klien ,Teo, turn a weak position group into a position of strength. Hiring Alex Okafor is looking like a good move also. Credit Mike Nolan for the job he has done with his group. On the opposite side of the field we added Warford an underrated FA move. Ginn is a good replacement for Cooks and seems to improve weekly.

The team has made a concerted move to more balanced approach to our offense. This helps Brees to not have to carry the offense and opens up opportunities for play action and screens.
A great deal of our success on Defense has been with better coverage by our secondary has allowed us to greatly improve our pass rush.

At O and 2 I was ready to fire Payton and start the rebuilding process. Man was I wrong. After the beat down of a decent Bills D I don't see how you can't be thinking playoffs a SB!

Re: How did we get here.
 

I don't think the team 'moved' to a blance Offense. We have always been balanced. Its just when you play from behind that game plan goes out the window.

Thanks to the D. We can play with a lead and just run the ball. Take less chances passing and just pounded. If you can't stop us running then we will continue to run it.

Oh and one more very important factor in all this and can't be missed we have a high football IQ team. I was watching the Browns play and the idiotic play calling and execution by the palyers cost them that game. They have talent just not a very smart IQ football.

Re: How did we get here.
 

I agree but this O line is somewhat unique in their ability to pass protect and run block (in side, outside and screen) equally well. A few more games like yesterday and they are on the cusp of being legendary.

Re: How did we get here.
 

The problem the rest of the league realizes, or better PDQ, is that a team can't let the Saints get a lead.

I remember a stat early in the Payton era that the Saints were virtually unbeatable if, at any point in a game, they got a 10 point lead; we could see that again!

Re: How did we get here.
 

The offensive line across the board is playing great, even Kelemete playing at a high level. Whoever the OL coach, keep him signed and decline any offers from other teams for interviews.

Same could be said with Lb & DL coach. When I thought Manti teo will be our weakness, he step in for Klein and the defense didn't miss a beat.

Re: How did we get here.
 

It used to be if the Saints broke out in a game Roger would make a call down to the refs to start calling ticky tack holding penalties

Hard to stop this team

Re: How did we get here.
 

If I had to point to any one thing it would have to be the draft. This team was devoid of talent and depth for years, until now.

A close second would be coaching changes.

Re: How did we get here.
 

One great draft!

Re: How did we get here.
 

Yeah, the depth is encouraging, for sure.

Re: How did we get here.
 

The team we are now, if we went back and played Minnesota and New England, I think we'd win both games, pretty convincingly too.